Chapter 1411: Finally, an Explanation

The snow was falling heavier and heavier. Xuzhou City had become a white world draped in silver. On days when wind and snow raged, few people naturally ventured out. Apart from those heading to workshops and shops for work, the streets were nearly empty, so hardly anyone noticed a troop of red-clad cavalry escorting a carriage into Xuzhou City.

Nor would anyone notice that inside this utterly unremarkable carriage sat a man who had once been Xuzhou's mortal enemy.

Here already? That was fast.

Wei Zhongxian sighed and let the curtain fall back down.

When he was captured, he had been in the lands east of Kaifeng Prefecture. A little further east and he would have entered Shandong, Zhao Jin's territory. Perhaps out of consideration for his advanced age, after a period of hard riding, once they entered Shandong, the cavalrymen transferred him into a carriage that had been prepared long ago, and then escorted the carriage all the way toward Xuzhou.

Zhao Jin placed great importance on road-building in Xuzhou. Although Shandong was newly acquired territory, large-scale construction had been underway to build roads, so the journey was smooth and steady the entire way. In just a few days, the carriage arrived beneath the walls of Xuzhou City.

Through road-building, Zhao Jin made his territory accessible in all directions, allowing him to mobilize his great army at any time, while also absorbing the refugees who flocked to him, giving them food and clothing. It was killing two birds with one stone.

For Wei Zhongxian, however, this journey was not one where faster was better, because he knew that at the journey's end, nothing good awaited him.

After all, his enmity with Zhao Jin was immense, and... he had absolutely no intention of surrendering to Zhao Jin.

Amid his tangled thoughts, the carriage wound through the city's twisting roads and finally stopped inside a residence.

"Come on out!" A soldier lifted the curtain and shouted at him.

Wei Zhongxian offered no resistance and stepped directly out of the carriage.

As soon as he got out, he raised his head and looked around, discovering that this really was just a residence, and a rather grand-looking one at that. Then, a person dressed as a servant walked over, exchanged a few whispered words with the soldier, and the soldier turned and left.

"Gonggong, please follow me. You should rest well first." The servant bowed respectfully to Wei Zhongxian and then made a gesture inviting him to follow.

Not throwing me into a death cell, but instead treating me with such hospitality—is this meant to make me surrender and become a trophy to show the world?

Zhao Jin, you really do underestimate me! Wei Zhongxian sighed inwardly, then followed the servant along corridors and up stairs to a room that had already been prepared.

The room's furnishings were extremely grand. Even the bed had been perfumed with incense. The moment he sat down, he felt his whole body go soft and much more comfortable.

"Gonggong, please wait a moment. The meal will be delivered shortly." The servant smiled and bowed to him again. "Please rest for now. Though this place cannot compare to the capital, it is still much warmer and more comfortable than outside."

"I've fallen to such a state—what more is there to say?" Wei Zhongxian replied calmly. "Whatever hospitality you offer, it's fine. I'm not so ungrateful as to refuse kindness!"

"Gonggong speaks truly!" The servant smiled and left.

Then, just as he had said, the meal was quickly delivered. Wei Zhongxian, who had been somewhat hungry for a while, paid no further mind and directly picked up his chopsticks to eat. Though the dishes were no rare delicacies, they had been prepared with considerable care, and Wei Zhongxian ate with great relish.

He knew that the other side probably harbored thoughts of recruiting him to surrender, which was why they were settling him in so comfortably. Once he clearly refused to surrender, only the path of death would remain. So he ate this meal before his execution with considerable calm.

After he finished eating, the servant carefully cleared away the bowls and chopsticks. "Gonggong, please wait a moment. My master will come to see you shortly."

"Very well, as you please." Wei Zhongxian showed no surprise.

Who was this master coming to see him? Could it be Zhao Jin?

If it were Zhao Jin, that would be ideal. He could denounce the traitor to his face. But he himself knew that was unlikely.

Wei Zhongxian's speculation was soon answered.

"Cui Wensheng!" The moment he saw the other man's face, Wei Zhongxian couldn't help but exclaim, "It's actually you!"

Indeed, the visitor—that is, the master of this place—was none other than the eunuch Cui Wensheng, who had defected to Zhao Jin.

Back in Beijing, he had initially gnashed his teeth in hatred for this Cui Wensheng, who had betrayed his master for glory. But ever since his own downfall, he had grown much more indifferent about it in his heart. Everyone has their own ambitions; how can one demand that every man fear neither death nor forsake glory?

Cui Wensheng, too, studied Wei Zhongxian intently, then let out a heavy sigh.

"Gonggong has suffered!" He sighed as he walked over to the table.

"It's alright." Wei Zhongxian let him sit down beside him. "Rises and falls are commonplace. I stumbled, and I can blame no one else."

"Gonggong is quite open-minded!" As if sensing Wei Zhongxian's coldness, Cui Wensheng gave another bitter smile. "That Chongzhen brat listened to slander and was determined to take Gonggong's life. The imperial edict had even been drafted. Fortunately, we acted in time and saved Gonggong's life!"

"This life of mine originally belongs to the Great Ming imperial house. If the Son of Heaven wants it, he can take it. I would have nothing to say." Wei Zhongxian shook his head, showing no sign of gratitude.

Cui Wensheng looked at Wei Zhongxian's stern face. A flicker of shame suddenly crossed his own features, and then he seemed to want to speak but held back. In the end, he only sighed.

"Ah... ah... Gonggong... Gonggong is still angry with me, isn't he?"

"Everyone has their own ambitions. I have nothing to say to you either." Wei Zhongxian shook his head. "It seems you're doing quite well for yourself here under Zhao Jin."

"Doing well? It's alright. I've just managed to get some assignments, barely caught Zhao Jin's discerning eye." Cui Wensheng smiled. "Gonggong, don't mock me."

"Mock you? How would I dare?" Wei Zhongxian gave a bitter laugh. "I am nothing but a prisoner now. What right do I have to mock you?"

"A prisoner? Gonggong is mistaken." Cui Wensheng shook his head. "The Great Ming cannot tolerate Gonggong, but since Gonggong has come to Xuzhou, you are naturally safe and secure. Gonggong can rest at ease."

"At ease? Since I've been captured and brought here, you can dispose of me however you wish." Wei Zhongxian laid his cards on the table directly. "But I must make one thing clear: asking me to surrender to Zhao Jin is absolutely impossible!"

Cui Wensheng looked at Wei Zhongxian, stunned for a moment, then suddenly burst out laughing.

"Gonggong, you're still mistaken!"

"What do you mean?" Wei Zhongxian was somewhat puzzled.

"Master Jin has no intention of recruiting Gonggong at all. Gonggong only needs to live out your life here in peace; nothing else is required." Cui Wensheng smiled and waved his hand. "When I heard that Gonggong was in trouble this time, I pleaded on your behalf, hoping Master Jin would send some troops to bring you here. Master Jin agreed, saying that in light of my diligent service, he would do this small favor... and so Gonggong was rescued."

"A small favor..." Now it was Wei Zhongxian's turn to be stunned.

Only then did he fully understand. So Zhao Jin had never taken him, nor the Great Ming court, seriously at all. He already viewed the realm as something already in his bag.

After discovering how terrifying Zhao Jin was, he had regarded him as a mortal enemy. Yet... now Zhao Jin did not take him seriously in the slightest.

That feeling was truly so painful it made his heart ache.

"So, Gonggong, don't overthink it. Just rest here at ease, please. Rest assured, we will never force Gonggong to do anything tedious." Cui Wensheng kept smiling the whole time. "The conquest of the realm from Xuzhou is already a matter of course. There's no need for so many tedious tricks."

Although his words were meant to console Wei Zhongxian, his tone was full of a kind of boasting, as if the realm were truly already within Zhao Jin's easy grasp.

Well, it was indeed so.

Wei Zhongxian suddenly felt his throat go dry.

"Someone, bring some wine!" Cui Wensheng called out, ordering a servant to fetch wine. "Gonggong, we haven't seen each other for many days. Today is perfect to catch up on old times. This residence is originally mine. Gonggong, please stay here without worry and live out your remaining years in peace."

"How thoughtful of you!" Wei Zhongxian smiled.

The wine was quickly brought by the servant, who then placed a cup before each of them and poured the wine.

As soon as the wine was poured, its clear, cold fragrance spread everywhere.

Wei Zhongxian smelled the wine's aroma, picked up his cup, and drained it in one gulp.

The strong liquor burned like fire in his stomach, then spread through his limbs and every bone in his body.

"Fine wine!"

"Wine from Xuzhou — how could it not be fine?" Cui Wensheng was still smiling as he drank a cup himself. "Rest assured, Eunuch, there will be plenty more of this wine to come!"

As the two drank, they began talking about old times, especially the sufferings each had endured in the palace.

Both of them had slowly endured their way up from the very bottom of the palace. Though each had later risen to prominence, before that, what humiliation and pain had they not suffered?

As they talked on, perhaps driven by the force of the wine, Wei Zhongxian's eyes actually filled with tears.

"Those days were truly bitter. Who knows how many people simply suffered to death like that, and who knows if they found any relief once they went underground…"

"Yes, unbearably bitter! Is not that palace the filthiest, most foul place under heaven? So many people were simply worn down to death alive…" Cui Wensheng echoed him, tears also welling in his eyes. "Fortunately, Lord Jin detests that whole system. He said that once he gains the realm, he will absolutely abolish eunuchs and never again allow such an inhuman place to exist!"

"Abolish the eunuchs? How could that be?" Wei Zhongxian blinked.

He did not quite believe it.

He knew that Zhao Jin was not a man excessively given to lust, but who under heaven, after becoming emperor, would not seek to possess all things? Even if he did not, his sons and grandsons would eventually think of it.

"Eunuch, do not think I am jesting. He has seen through the accumulated ills of the Great Ming with perfect clarity — how could he repeat the same mistakes?" Cui Wensheng's face was already flushed, making his smile seem all the more genial. "Very well, I knew you would not believe it, but no matter. Before long, Lord Jin will have seized the realm. Then you can see for yourself whether Lord Jin truly means what he says."

"Soon?" Wei Zhongxian was taken aback.

"Yes, the day Lord Jin takes the realm is just around the corner!" Cui Wensheng said with considerable excitement. "The imperial court's great army, the Jurchen great army — both have been utterly routed by Lord Jin. Now, under the vast heavens, who remains that can be a match for Xuzhou?"

"True enough… true enough…" Wei Zhongxian stared blankly for a moment, then murmured to himself.

"Who, given the chance to be emperor, would not take it?" Cui Wensheng said with a laugh. "In this world, no one is willing to yield."

Although he had long guessed that Zhao Jin would reach this point one day, he had not imagined that Zhao Jin would be so impatient.

He knew Cui Wensheng was right. At this moment, the realm was Zhao Jin's for the taking. If Zhao Jin wished to scheme for the realm, there was no one left who could stand in his way.

The Great Ming is doomed, the Great Ming is doomed, the Great Ming is doomed… The earlier roaring sound now thundered in his ears once more.

Though he knew the Great Ming was already too far gone to be saved, dragging things out one more day still held the hope of one more day. He just had not expected that Zhao Jin would deny him even that hope.

Who was left to stop him? No one.

The Great Ming was doomed.

Wei Zhongxian's face went from red to white, then slowly reddened again. "Good! Good! Let us drink more! Fine wine!" He lifted his cup and once more poured the wine down his throat.

The wine was unexpectedly so bitter.

The drinking went on for a very long time. It was deep into the night when the two men, thoroughly drunk, finally said their farewells. "Eunuch… do not overthink things, and do not be afraid. Just settle here in peace! You showed me kindness in those years, and now… now though I, Cui Wensheng, have changed my allegiance, I absolutely cannot forget my roots. So I will repay this kindness to the very end… Rest assured, Lord Jin… Lord Jin is broad-minded and will never… will never make things difficult for you!"

As he spoke, Cui Wensheng, supported by a servant, staggered and stumbled his way out the door.

Wei Zhongxian, however, slumped over the table and remained silent.

Only after a long while did he slowly rise and walk to the bedside.

The bedsheet was very white, like the snow outside the window, utterly spotless — yet this mortal world could never be so.

Trembling, he reached out his hand, placed it on the bedsheet, and gently stroked it.

Then, he slowly pulled the sheet free and began twisting it, bit by bit.

Memories of the past surfaced in his mind one by one. He remembered his hometown, where the snow also fell this heavily in winter. When he had left that place all those years ago, how could he ever have imagined he would win the Son of Heaven's favor and enjoy a season of supreme glory? And how could he ever have imagined he would end up at this step?

Amid these dazed recollections, before he knew it, he had twisted the sheet into a rope.

Then he looked up at the ceiling to fix the position. He quietly moved the table, placing it directly beneath a roof beam, and then set a chair on top of the table. This way, he could reach the beam.

Then, with effort, he climbed onto the table and stood on the chair. Because he had drunk quite a bit, his weakened body felt no fatigue; instead, he was full of energy.

With a forceful swing, he flung the bedsheet rope over both sides of the beam, then grasped the two ends, brought them together, and tied a knot. He was extremely careful and meticulous in tying the knot, because only then would it be sturdy enough — sturdy enough to take his life.

That was right. He intended to seek death here.

From the very first day he had been seized by Xuzhou's soldiers and escorted toward Xuzhou, he had already resolved to die.

Death, at his age and in his circumstances, was not a fearful thing. To him, what mattered far more was the name he left behind.

He had come to Xuzhou. Whether or not he accepted Zhao Jin's favors, the world would only see him as that Tao Che did — a treacherous eunuch who betrayed his master for glory. Though he could be certain that, when dynasties changed, men like Tao Che would only throw themselves into the new dynasty's embrace with even greater enthusiasm.

He was already regarded as the chief culprit of the Great Ming's ruin, so he absolutely could not also bear the infamy of betraying his master for glory. Otherwise, for all eternity, how could he have the face to meet anyone's eyes?

Those Donglin partisans are shameless beyond measure, but I am different, Wei Zhongxian thought to himself.

It was true — he had a record of vile misdeeds. He had manipulated power, taken bribes, harmed people. But the one thing he refused to become was a man who betrayed his master for glory. Because his master was the Late Emperor. It was the Late Emperor who had granted him a kindness beyond repayment, pulling him out of the mire and making him a powerful eunuch second only to one man and above all others.

To have failed to safeguard the Great Ming's rivers and mountains for the Late Emperor was already a crime of monstrous magnitude. If he were to shamelessly live on under Zhao Jin, what face would he have left to go underground and meet the Late Emperor?

Therefore, from the very beginning, he had never intended to survive.

The reason he had delayed until today was simply a bit of curiosity in his heart — he had wanted to meet Zhao Jin. He wanted to see what this young man, who had thwarted him time and again and seized the realm, actually looked like. If possible, he also wanted to denounce this rebel and traitor to his face, then stretch out his neck and meet his death with a laugh.

It was only after arriving that he realized Zhao Jin had no intention of giving him that chance. Zhao Jin did not take him seriously at all.

In that case, what reason was there to cling to life? After drinking with Cui Wensheng, he had firmly resolved to end his own life this very night. Zhao Jin's seizure of the realm was clearly imminent — he had to die before the Great Ming did.

The knot was finished. He tested it; it was indeed very sturdy.

Wei Zhongxian smiled with satisfaction. At least before death, I am still a subject of the Great Ming.

Then, he grasped the rope and placed his head through the loop.

If I kill myself the very first day I arrived, Cui Wensheng probably won't know how to handle it.

Little Cui, I truly owe you an apology!

Without the slightest hesitation, he kicked the chair away.

His body dropped swiftly, and the rope tightened harder and harder around his neck.

His body's instincts made him involuntarily open his mouth wide, gasping for breath, but no air could enter. His feet kicked unconsciously, yet they found no solid ground.

The pain in his neck grew more and more intense, the tightness in his chest heavier and heavier, while his vision slowly blurred, as if the room itself were covered in a layer of snowflakes — he could see nothing clearly.

"Your Majesty… your old servant comes to keep you company!" A final thought flashed through his mind.

The lamp went out.